Daugavpils, Jūrmala, Liepāja and Valmiera advance to the next round of the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2027 in Latvia

The first round of the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2027 in Latvia concluded on 8 July, after which Daugavpils, Jūrmala, Liepāja and Valmiera advanced to the next round. The proposals submitted by the cities participating in the competition were evaluated online over three days by an independent panel of experts comprising experts selected by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions, as well as two national experts nominated by the National Cultural Council and the Ministry of Culture.

The first round of the European Capital of Culture competition in Latvia was contested by Cēsis, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, Jūrmala, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Ogre and Valmiera, which submitted their applications between August 2020 and 4 June 2021. It should be noted that merely applying and meeting the initial selection criteria is already a positive achievement for candidates for the title of European Capital of Culture, as it demonstrates the cities’ capabilities in the cultural, economic and social spheres, while making culture part of their long-term development strategies.

Zane Petre, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia: “Throughout history, culture has been a source of togetherness and companionship, inspiration and comfort for people. In both good times and less favourable times, it helps us to be stronger, preserve our traditions, enrich one another and continue our development. The European Capital of Culture initiative is a wonderful example of how we can make our culture more widely known, continuing traditions while creating anew, and carry Latvia’s name across Europe and the world. Every city that has accepted this challenge and is competing for the title of European Capital of Culture is already a winner in its own way, by thinking, planning and investing in the development of its city. I wish every city continued success on its chosen path—dreaming, creating and implementing ideas that embody European values and enable people to discover Latvia!”

The competition’s selection criteria stipulate that cities must prepare a cultural programme with a clear and significant European dimension that encourages the participation of residents of the city and nearby areas and attracts both local and international visitors. The programme must have a lasting impact and contribute to the city’s long-term development. Applicants must also demonstrate municipal support and the capacity to implement the project.

“The status of European Capital of Culture enables a Latvian city—and, consequently, our entire country—to be positioned within Europe’s cultural space; this status can provide both a positive impulse for restarting the city’s cultural strategy and bring new benefits in business, tourism, the economy and social life. This is also demonstrated by the experience of our capital in 2014, as we continue to observe how initiatives launched seven years ago continue to live and develop within Riga’s cultural space, and how this has brought about a significant change in the paradigm of the city’s cultural policy,” emphasises Dace Vilsone, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, stressing that every city and municipality that participated in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2027 is already a winner. Winners—because they have assessed their strengths, resources and ambitions, and worked carefully on developing a detailed cultural programme. I am convinced that we, as people who enjoy Latvia’s cultural life, will experience at least some of these programmes, regardless of the competition results.”

Once the jury’s recommendation announced on 8 July has been officially approved, these cities—Daugavpils, Jūrmala, Liepāja and Valmiera—will have to develop their applications in much greater detail by spring 2022. The jury will then meet again to evaluate them and decide which of these cities will become European Capital of Culture in 2027, when Latvia will host a European Capital of Culture for the second time (the first Latvian city to become European Capital of Culture was Riga in 2014). Portugal will also have another European Capital of Culture in 2027. In Portugal, the competition was announced in November 2020, and the pre-selection meeting will take place at the beginning of 2022.

It should be noted that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and following a proposal by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union decided to extend the status of the two European Capitals of Culture for 2020—Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland)—until April 2021. In 2022, Novi Sad (Serbia), Kaunas (Lithuania) and Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) will become European Capitals of Culture; in 2023—Elefsina (Greece), Timișoara (Romania) and Veszprém (Hungary). In 2024, the European Capitals of Culture will be Tartu (Estonia), Bad Ischl (Austria) and Bodø (Norway); in 2025—Chemnitz (Germany) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia).

The European Capitals of Culture initiative began in Greece in 1985, thanks to an idea by the then Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri, and has become one of the most ambitious cultural projects in Europe. The initiative aims to promote cultural diversity in Europe, highlight the common features of different cultures and foster the role of culture in the long-term development of cities.

More information - https://www.km.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/daugavpils-jurmala-liepaja-un-valmiera-ieklust-konkursa-2027-gada-eiropas-kulturas-galvaspilseta-latvija-nakamaja-karta

Author:

Ministry of Culture

km.gov.lv